IAU vs. SGDJ
IAU (iShares Gold Trust) and SGDJ (Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF) are both Gold funds - IAU tracks the LBMA Gold Price while SGDJ tracks the Solactive Junior Gold Miners Custom Factors Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IAU returned 11.52%/yr vs 8.47%/yr for SGDJ. Their 0.75 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. IAU charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.50%/yr for SGDJ.
Performance
IAU vs. SGDJ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IAU achieves a -5.52% return, which is significantly higher than SGDJ's -5.81% return. Over the past 10 years, IAU has outperformed SGDJ with an annualized return of 11.52%, while SGDJ has yielded a comparatively lower 8.47% annualized return.
IAU
- 1D
- 0.66%
- 1M
- -1.06%
- 6M
- -17.56%
- YTD
- -5.52%
- 1Y
- 20.51%
- 3Y*
- 27.77%
- 5Y*
- 17.43%
- 10Y*
- 11.52%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.74%
SGDJ
- 1D
- 4.10%
- 1M
- 0.99%
- 6M
- -19.01%
- YTD
- -5.81%
- 1Y
- 70.88%
- 3Y*
- 49.28%
- 5Y*
- 17.75%
- 10Y*
- 8.47%
- ALL TIME*
- 13.83%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $375.17M | $380.53M | $472.45M | |
| $3.46M | $3.40M | $5.01M |
IAU vs. SGDJ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAU iShares Gold Trust | -5.52% | 63.95% | 26.85% | 12.84% | -0.63% | -4.00% | 25.03% | 17.98% | -1.76% | 12.91% |
SGDJ Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF | -5.81% | 174.44% | 19.35% | 6.66% | -27.60% | -15.12% | 47.91% | 37.00% | -25.63% | 5.94% |
Correlation
The correlation between IAU and SGDJ is 0.79, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.79 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.78 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.78 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.75 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 31, 2015 | 0.75 |
The correlation between IAU and SGDJ has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.75 to 0.79 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IAU vs. SGDJ — Risk / Return Rank
IAU
SGDJ
IAU vs. SGDJ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF (SGDJ). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| IAU | SGDJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.62 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.68 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.24 | -0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.78 | 1.88 | -1.09 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.66 | 3.88 | -2.22 |
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Drawdowns
IAU vs. SGDJ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IAU drawdown since its inception was -45.14%, smaller than the maximum SGDJ drawdown of -59.27%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAU and SGDJ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IAU | SGDJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.14% | -59.27% | +14.13% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -26.36% | -37.98% | +11.62% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.36% | -37.98% | +11.62% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.36% | -52.66% | +26.30% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -26.36% | -59.20% | +32.84% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -24.50% | -31.33% | +6.83% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.02% | -26.34% | +10.32% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 12.36% | 18.33% | -5.97% |
Volatility
IAU vs. SGDJ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Gold Trust (IAU) is 5.93%, while Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF (SGDJ) has a volatility of 14.20%. This indicates that IAU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SGDJ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IAU | SGDJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.93% | 14.20% | -8.27% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.43% | 40.19% | -19.76% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.85% | 52.54% | -24.69% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.43% | 41.35% | -22.92% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.07% | 40.93% | -24.86% |
IAU vs. SGDJ - Expense Ratio Comparison
IAU has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than SGDJ's 0.50% expense ratio.
Dividends
IAU vs. SGDJ - Dividend Comparison
IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders, while SGDJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.89%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SGDJ Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF | 8.89% | 8.37% | 6.55% | 4.55% | 2.46% | 2.20% | 1.97% | 0.65% | 0.00% | 0.14% | 1.77% | 0.85% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IAU and SGDJ have a correlation of 0.79, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SGDJ has higher volatility (14.20%) compared to IAU (5.93%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IAU dropped -45.14% vs SGDJ's -59.27%.
On 10-year performance, IAU leads with 11.52% vs 8.47% for SGDJ. On fees, IAU is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, IAU has been the lower-risk option at 5.93%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IAU has performed better with a 11.52% return vs 8.47%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IAU is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.50% for SGDJ.
SGDJ has the higher dividend yield at 8.89%, compared with 0.00% for IAU.
IAU tracks LBMA Gold Price, while SGDJ tracks Solactive Junior Gold Miners Custom Factors Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Sprott. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for IAU and 0.50% for SGDJ.
SGDJ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.36 vs 0.74), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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